N virtual channel radio

Abstract

A radio system allowing radios in a network to utilize functionality of other radios in the network includes a plurality of radios each having the capability to communicate with other radios in the network, and each having functionality that is not common to every other radio in the network. Radios send requests to other radios in the network to re-transmit a signal using a specific transmission mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A radio apparatus comprising:
 a processor; 
 a transmitter functionally connected to the processor; 
 a receiver functionally connected to the processor; and 
 computer executable program code, 
 wherein the computer executable program code is configured to:
 execute a request to re-transmit a signal received through the receiver in a specific mode other than the mode in which the signal was received; and 
 broadcast a signal on a common channel indicating that the apparatus is available to re-transmit a signal. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the computer executable program code is further configured to allow an operator to initiate broadcasting the signal indicating that the apparatus is available to re-transmit a signal. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the computer executable program code is further configured to stop re-transmitting signals based on an operator's instruction. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the computer executable program code is further configured to override an operator's instruction to stop re-transmitting signals based on a remotely transmitted override signal. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the specific mode is configured to be compatible with a HAVE QUICK system. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the specific mode is configured to be compatible with a SINCGARS system. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the specific mode is configured for satellite communication. 
     
     
       8. A radio network system comprising:
 a first radio apparatus comprising:
 a processor; 
 a transmitter functionally connected to the processor; 
 a receiver functionally connected to the processor; and 
 computer executable program code; and 
 
 a second radio apparatus comprising:
 a processor; 
 a transmitter functionally connected to the processor; 
 a receiver functionally connected to the processor; and 
 computer executable program code, 
 
 wherein:
 the computer executable program code of the first radio apparatus is configured to send a request to re-transmit a signal by a specific mode beyond the capabilities of the first radio apparatus; and 
 the computer executable program code of the second radio apparatus is configured:
 to execute the request to re-transmit a signal by a specific mode; and 
 broadcast a signal on a common channel indicating that the second radio apparatus is available to re-transmit a signal. 
 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of transmission nodes, each node comprising an apparatus configured to relay a signal to one or more other nodes in the plurality of transmission nodes, wherein at least one node is configured to receive a signal from the first radio, and at least one node is configured to send a signal to the second radio. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes comprises a radio apparatus. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the computer executable program code of the second radio apparatus is further configured to allow an operator to initiate broadcasting the signal indicating that the apparatus is available to re-transmit a signal. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the computer executable program code of the second radio apparatus is further configured to stop re-transmitting signals based on an operator's instruction. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the computer executable program code of the second radio apparatus is further configured to override an operator's instruction to stop re-transmitting signals based on a remotely transmitted override signal. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the specific mode is configured to be compatible with a HAVE QUICK system. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the specific mode is configured to be compatible with a SINCGARS system. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the specific mode is configured for satellite communication. 
     
     
       17. A method of re-transmitting a signal in a radio network system comprising:
 broadcasting a signal on a common channel indicating that a second radio apparatus is available to re-transmit a signal; 
 sending a request to re-transmit a signal from a first radio apparatus in the radio network system; 
 receiving the request to re-transmit the signal by the second radio apparatus in the radio network system; and 
 re-transmitting the signal, 
 wherein the request to re-transmit the signal includes a request to utilize transmission functionality which is native to the second radio apparatus and which is not native to the first radio apparatus. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising relaying the request to re-transmit the signal through one or more nodes configured to relay the signal.